A Monastic Tonsure at the Residence of the Archbishop of San Francisco and Western America - 12/27/14

On Thursday, December 25, 2014, His Grace Bishop Theodosius of Seattle, Vicar of the Western American Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, tonsured Peter Karakozov, for many years the personal assistant to His Eminence Archbishop Kyrill, Ruling Bishop of the diocese. He was given the name Peter after Holy New Martyr Peter, Metropolitan of Krutitsa. Monk Peter joins the Brotherhood of St Ignatius (Bryanchaninov) in San Francisco.

Monk Peter will be elevated to the rank of Hierdeacon on the Feast of the Nativity of Christ, December 25, 2014 / January 7, 2105.

The Holy Theotokos of Iveron Church in Honolulu, Hawaii, celebrated its 30th Anniversary November 22nd and 23rd, 2014. It was a festive Pan-Orthodox weekend with clergy and faithful from many jurisdictions traveling from afar to participate and attend...

Heartfelt congratulations are offered from the Diocesan Council, clergy and all the faithful of the Western American Diocese with this Jubilee with wishes of health and length of days in service to our Diocese.

Western American Diocese Marks 80th Anniversary with a Clergy Banquet - 10/16/14

On Thursday October 2, 2014, in Monterey, CA, a banquet was held for the clergy and their spouses marking the 80th Anniversary of the Western American Diocese. The event was held in conjunction with the annual fall pastoral retreat and the celebration of the 700th Anniversary of the birth of St. Sergius of Radonezh and the 50th Anniversary of the Canonization of St. John of Kronstadt by the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia held at Saint Seraphim of Sarov Church in Seaside, CA.

Dear in the Lord fathers and concelebrants, brothers, sisters, and children – good and faithful servants of the Western American Diocese!

This year, 2014, our Russian Orthodox Church is celebrating two anniversaries: 700 years since the birth of St. Sergius of Radonezh, and 50 years since the glorification of the holy and righteous John of Kronstadt by the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia.

On September 15, 2013, His Holiness Patriarch Kyril announced the establishment of a feast day dedicated the sacred memory of Holy Right-believing Prince Peter and Princess Febronia of Murom to be held annually on the Sunday before September 19 (therefore, this year on Sunday September 14), since this holy couple has been manifest as a pious example of and intercessors for married life.

The 23rd Russian Orthodox Church Musicians’ Conference to be held from October 8 – 12, 2014, is announcing special rates and scheduled activities. Thanks to a grant from the Russian American Women’s League, special rates for hotel registration, including $525.00 for double occupancy, extended through September 7!

Calistoga Orthodox Wines was founded by Priest Akim Provotakis, Rector of Saint Simeon of Verhostursk Church of the Western American Diocese in Calistoga, CA. Calistoga Orthodox Wines has produced a high quality Kagor for use as a chalice wine during the Divine Liturgy. The first vintage was so successful that it is completely sold out. Now, a new one is in production for release in the near future.

His Eminence Archbishop Kyrill has announced an All-Diocesan Celebration-Pilgrimage to Saint Seraphim of Sarov Church in Monterey, California, on Saturday the 4th of October, 2014.

The “Kursk-Root” Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos Visited the Western American Diocese this Summer - 08/21/14

The “Kursk-Root” Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos, the Directress of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, visited the Western American Diocese. She arrived at the end of June, 2014, in time for the opening of the Council of Bishops and the 20th Anniversary of the Canonization of Saint John of Shanghai and San Francisco the Wonderworker celebrated on June 29 of this year.

The Bay Area’s first International Russian Choral Music Festival - 07/22/14

With the blessing of Archbishop Kirill, the Bay Area’s first International Russian Choral Music Festival comes to San Francisco and Berkeley August 3-10, 2014. Four concerts offer a panorama of the exquisite Russian choral music tradition, including rare and new music that has almost never been performed outside Russia. The music ranges from ancient monastic chants to new works, including little-known music from folk and religious traditions, operatic arias and choral arrangements for a Festival Chorus of nearly 100 voices.

The “Kursk-Root” Icon Visits Parishes of the Western American Diocese - 07/11/14

The "Kursk-Root" Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos arrived in the Western American Diocese for the Council of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, which convened from the 23 to the 30 of June this year.

On June 16/29, during the celebrations surrounding the 20th anniversary of the glorification of St. John of San Francisco, a new bishop for the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia will be consecrated. We offer our readers some information on the episcopal candidate, Archimandrite Nicholas, Bishop-elect of Manhattan and the rite of episcopal consecration as well.

The Opening of the Council of Bishops and News about Saint John’s Day - 06/24/14

Today, the 24 of June, 2014, the opening of the Council of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia took place and sessions will continue through the 1 of July. The meetings are to be convened in the Archbishop Anthony Memorial Library of the Chancellery of Western American Diocese at the Saint Tikhon of Zadonsk Church in San Francisco. More information and photographs are available here.

The Youth Committee of the Western American Diocese has long desired to organize a work project for our youth, to givet them a 'hand's on' opportunity to contribute to the building up of the Church in our Diocese. The paving of a courtyard and pathway was accomplished by our youth at St. Martin Church in Corvallis, OR, from June 16 to 20, with time for recreation on the last day.

Saint Martin Orthodox Church in Corvallis, Oregon, is Inviting Youth for Work and Recreation - 05/30/14

A Youth Project sponsored by the Youth Department of the Western American Diocese at Saint Martin Orthodox Church in Corvallis, Oregon, is being held from Tuesday June 17 to Thursday June 19, 2014. The event includes paver installation, painting and landscaping, together with social time and an all-day outing to the Oregon Coast. There is no charge for participation in this event. All expenses (excepting travel to and from Corvallis) will be covered by the parish and/or the WAD Youth Department.

The Second Presentation of the Diocesan Journal “Spiritual Spring” - 05/24/14

On the 24th of May, 2014, at a meeting of the Russian American Women’s League the second Presentation of Spiritual Spring, the official journal of the Western American Diocese took place. The Editor-in-Chief His Eminence Archbishop Kyrill of San Francisco and Western America, and members of the Editorial Board were met by representatives of the League.

The annual diocesan pilgrimage to Fort Ross, located 11 miles north of Jenner, CA, will take place on Memorial Day, May 26, 2014. The Greeting of the Bishop is scheduled for 9:30 am. After Divine Liturgy there will be a procession to the cemetery and a Litya for the Dead.

The Sts. Cyril & Athanasius Institute for Orthodox Studies is delighted to announce that registration is OPEN NOW for a Pilgrimage to the Orthodox Sites of the United Kingdom, from 2nd-11th September 2014. An extraordinary journey encompassing the ancient as well as modern-day Orthodox life of Britain: there are only 15 places available on the Institute's first ever-pilgrimage.

Banquet Commemorating the 20th Anniversary of the Canonization of St. John of Shanghai and San Franciso - 05/13/14

Reservations for the solemn banquet held on Sunday June 29th at 3:00 pm commemorating the 20th Anniversary of the Canonization of Saint John of Shanghai and San Francisco the Wonderworker are now available online through the website of the Holy Virgin Cathedral "Joy of All Who Sorrow."

The 23rd Russian Orthodox Church Musician’s Conference will be hosted by Saints Peter and Paul Church in beautiful Santa Rosa, CA, from October 8th to 12th, 2014.

The title of the conference is Fundamentals of Musicianship for the Church Choir and its Conductor, and will focus “on increasing the skill, knowledge, artistic sensitivity, and prayerful execution of church singing, as well as the role of the conductor in building fluidity of harmony, nuances, and choral blend.”

Schedule of the Solemn Celebration of the 20th Anniversary of the Canonization of St. John of Shanghai and San Francisco the Wonderworker - 05/12/14

This year the clergy and faithful of the Western American Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia will solemnly celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the Canonization of our Father among the Saints John Archbishop of Shanghai and San Francisco the Wonderworker on the 27th, 28th, and 29th of June.

Members of the diocese are undertaking several actions in preparation for this great event.

Consecration of a New Church in the Western American Diocese - 05/04/14

On Sunday, May 4th, the Great Consecration took place of the new temple of the parish of St. George in Salt Lake City, Utah. The consecration was presided by His Eminence, Archbishop Kyrill of San Francisco.

A 5th year seminarian of Holy Trinity Seminary in Jordanville, NY, Nicholas Kotar of San Francisco (Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia), has written a new epic fantasy based on Russian fairy tales and myths entitled "Raven Son". For more information please see the novel's website.

Old Cathedral of the Holy Virgin in San Francisco, California - 03/17/14

During the Second Week of Great Lent the clergy of the Western American Diocese gathered together for a retreat of prayer, lectures and spiritual fellowship from Monday the 10th to Wednesday the 12th of this year.

The clergy observed the full cycle of Lenten Divine Services, including the prayers of St. Ephraim the Syrian, as the fathers took turns both reading and chanting on kliros, and conducting the the Divine Services from the Ambo.

The Lenten pastoral retreat of the Western American Diocese is scheduled from Monday the 17 to Wednesday the 19 of March, 2014, at the Old Holy Virgin Cathedral located at 864 Fulton Street in San Francisco.

Wednesday Lenten Gatherings at St. Tikhon of Zadonsk Church - 03/16/14

The annual Lenten Retreat that has been held at Holy Virgin Cathedral over the past several years cannot be organized this year due to the pressures of planning for the large-scale forthcoming events of the 20th Anniversary celebrations of St John, the Sobor of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia and the XIII All-Diaspora Youth Conference.

Saint Herman’s West Youth Conference: The Role of Women in the Church - 03/11/14

At the latest Saint Herman’s West Youth Conference held on the 22 to the 26 of December, 2013, at the Russian New Martyrs Church in Mulino, OR, Archimandrite Irenei (Steenberg) and Matushka Natalie Henderson gave a presentation on "The Role of Women in the Church."

The XIII All-Diaspora Youth Conference in San Francisco from June 27 to July 4 - 03/10/14

The XIII All-Diaspora Youth Conference of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia is being organized under the theme: "In the Footsteps of St. John." This conference will be dedicated to missionary work on the basis of social services and volunteer charity work and will be taking place during the All-Bishops Council and the Feast Day of Saint John of Shanghai and San Francisco the Wonderworker as this year marks the 20th anniversary of his Canonization.

Metropolitan Hilarion Issues a Statement in Connection With the Continuing Turmoil in Ukraine - 02/27/14

In light of the continued turmoil and unrest that have beset the Ukrainian land, the First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad, His Eminence Hilarion, Metropolitan of Eastern America and New York, released the following statement on February 26, 2014:

Having observed with grief and great concern the political upheavals in Ukraine, we ask that the faithful of the Russian Church Abroad strengthen their prayers for peace and the restoration of lawfulness among our brothers and sisters in that country. In this crucial time, when the Ukrainian people are searching for and trying to formulate a national identity, it is our fervent hope that they put at the head of the corner of this identity their Orthodox Faith, which has guided their fathers for over a thousand years. We, the faithful of the Russian Church Abroad living in America, regardless of our ethnic identity are all deeply connected to Kiev through our Enlightener, the Great Prince Vladimir. His decision to baptize the Kievan people led to the establishment of Holy Rus', which cultivated a great multitude of ascetics and saints, including St Herman of Alaska, who followed in St Vladimir's footsteps when he brought the Light of Christ to North America.

Statement from the Head of the House of Romanoff on the Recent Events in Ukraine - 02/27/14

A StatementFrom the Head of the Russian Imperial HouseH.I.H. Grand Duchess Maria of RussiaOn the Recent Events in Ukraine

The recent tragic events in Ukraine have filled my heart with enormous grief and sorrow.

It was not long ago, while visiting the ancient city of Kiev - the cradle of Slavic statehood - and the glorious and heroic Crimea, that I was filled with joy at seeing how Ukrainians of such different ethnic backgrounds, religious convictions, and social and political views all nonetheless maintain peaceful...

Prayers for the Health of Protodeacon Nicholas Triantafillidis - 02/26/14

Dear Fathers, Brothers and Sisters of the Western American Diocese and all readers of our website,

We request your heartfelt prayers for the health and recovery of Protodeacon Nicholas Triantafillidis, a pious and long-standing cleric of our diocesan cathedral. He has been visited by a dire illness. Please, support Father Nicholas by your prayerful petitions during this hour of trial for him and his family.

In relation to the political events that are now transpiring in the Ukraine, and with the blessing of His Eminence Archbishop Kyrill, on Sunday the 23 of February at 5 pm a moleben "For the Increase of Love" will be served at Holy Virgin Cathedral.

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill Appeals for Pacification in the Ukraine - 02/21/14

His Eminence Archbishop Kyrill of San Francisco and Western America requests that the following Patriarchal Address be read in all of the monasteries and parishes of our diocese on Sunday February 23 of this year.

During the weekend of February 8-9, the Hawaiian Myrrh-Streaming Iveron Icon visited Southern California, brought by her guardian, Reader Nektary Yangston.

Holy Transfiguration Cathedral of Los Angeles regularly holds Divine Liturgies on Saturdays, and on Saturday February 8th, a special blessing was imparted with the presence of the icon. The Rector, Archpriest Alexander Lebedeff presided, co-served by Cathedral clerics Priest Roman Katyshev, and Protodeacon Andre Karobkoff.

Just over a year ago a new journal appeared – "Spiritual Spring" – an official medium of the Western American Diocese.

“Spiritual Spring” is a periodical addressed not only to members of the Orthodox faith but anyone interested in learning more about Russia’s spiritual heritage. The magazine provides a variety of perspectives and experiences, appealing to a broad range of interests and demographics. Thematically, the journal covers all...

The Sts. Cyril & Athanasius Institute is offering its third set of Symposia this month, in two different California locations: in San Francisco on the 15th and 16th, and in the Los Angeles area (Riverside) on the 22nd and the 23rd. The theme of each is the same - "Martyrdom in the Christian Life: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow".

A Letter from the Secretary of the Synod of Bishops to the Chairman of the Assembly of Canonical Bishops in North and Central America - 01/29/14

On January 15 of this year the official website of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia published a Letter from the Secretary of her Synod of Bishops, His Eminence Archbishop Kyrill. This Letter is addressed to the Chairman of the Assembly of Canonical Bishops in North and Central America, His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios.

His Eminence Archbishop Kyrill visited the Deanery of Mexico from January 17 to 20 of this year.

On Friday January 17th His Eminence Archbishop Kyrill arrived in Mexico City where he was greeted by clergy of the Deanery of Mexico, as well as by the church warden of the local parish His Excellency Prince Alexander Saitcevsky, who hosted a dinner in honor of His Eminence.

The VII Annual Saint Herman's West Youth Conference was organized by the Western American Diocese Youth Department from December 22 to 26, 2013, under the direction of Archpriest Boris Henderson, Rector of All Saints of Russia Orthodox Church in Denver, CO. Father Boris has many years of experience working with youth and in organizing this event. He himself was a participant in the Saint Herman Youth Conferences as a young man and then as a priest for many years assisted in such conferences on the East Coast.